prior to killing 20 children and six adults, the shooter adam lanza, killed his mother nancy lanza in their home. nancy lanza was a gun enthusiast, practicing at a shooting range often, bringing her sons along with her. maryland's governor says new gun-control laws are likely, and aimed at regulating the type of assault weapon that adam lanza used to inflict some much harm. >> the people in maryland are all too familiar with the power of such weapons. >> in response to our inquiry, state police in maryland tell us there are more than 46,000 assault weapons legally registered in maryland. the argument is these weapons are so lethal and capable of killing and farming so many at one time there is no good reason for them to be legally --

killing and harming so many at one time, there's no reason for them to be legally available at all. the bushmaster used by john muhamed. for weeks he and li the surge -- while loading the family car at home depot, she suffered a bullet wound to the head. the bullet was fired from as much as 45 feet away. assault weapons are regulated just like handguns. buyers must go through a background check and wake up to seven days to take possession. but in the wake of connecticut, is it enough? >> we have all been changed by the life of innocent lives in connecticut. >> gov. martin o'malley after a meeting with his cabinet says that he is likely to introduce new bills about school safety, the sharing of mental health

records for background checks, and an assault weapons ban. >> should we have an assault weapons ban in our state? i believe there are probably greater numbers of delegates and senators coming to a conclusion that we should in light of the carnage in connecticut. >> an assault rifle was used by another notorious criminal in maryland in 2000. among his victims -- a woman shot driving to church. the bullet was so lethal that its ripped through burkhart and still killed her. >> the governor would not say whether his bill would require the owners of those assault weapons to turn them in. 46,700 assault weapons represent about 4% of the total registered firearms in maryland. reporting live, wbal tv-11 news.

>> according to elected officials around the state, regulations concerning military- type assault weapons are taking center stage in light of the tragedy in newtown. there's also additional attention to the access to mental health. lowell melser joins us with more. >> gun violence is a public health epidemic. >> the baltimore county police chief james johnson who also chairs the national partnership to prevent gun violence highlights what many officials around the state are feeling just days after the shootings in newtown, conn. and now the same elected officials are calling for new gun control laws. >> we must take immediate action to pursue reasonable gun safety legislation, not only in our state, but in our nation. >> over in county -- howard

county, the county executive has pledged to look closer at school safety and mental health. he also supports looking at the current gun laws. >> hopefully we can agree there are basic steps that should be taken to ensure that people are responsible in owning a weapon and taking a look at what kinds of weapons are appropriate to be on the streets. >> senator mark -- senator barbara mikulski has weighed in as well, calling for a two-step approach, looking at the culture of violence and offering more mental health benefits. >> i think this is a watershed moment in our country. we need each other, whether you support gun control, or the nra who should bring good ideas to citizens. we can protect the constitution, but we also have to protect our people. >> in annapolis, gov. martin o'malley says he supports looking into the gun issue, especially when it comes to

safety. >> i do not have a bill to present to you. it is still very much a work in progress. it is work that i would guess that every state in the union as undertaking. >> we call several gun stores that declined on-camera interviews, but did tell 11 news that guns are moving off the shelves at record rates. we were referred to a news release that read in part upon what we call it -- we find it callous and disrespectful that certain politicians and gun control advocates are so focused on their political agenda that they could not find it in their hearts to refrain from publicly exploiting this heartbreaking tragedy until after the victims had been returned to their families and loved ones." and the democratic senator from the murray townie announced what he is calling an anti--- montgomery county announced what he is calling an anti-gun

violence package. lowell melser, wbal tv-11 news. >> alright. thank you. for the first time since the shooting in connecticut, the national rifle association is commenting on the tragedy. the statement reads in part "it is shock, sadness, and are broken by the horrific and senseless murders in newtown." the nra said it wanted to wait before commenting to allow for morning, prayer, and a full investigation of the facts. it will hold a news conference on friday to offer meaningful contributions to make sure this never happens again. meanwhile, the shooting at sandy hook has raised questions about whether adequate mental health care is easily a sensible. access to mental health services is essential, but one expert says once a person gets too old for those services in school, he

or she may slip through the cracks. >> there has been a reduction in the mental-health community. that whole system has become frayed and shredded over the years. there is no safety net in place. >> over the years, the profession has gotten better at diagnosing and prevention, but mental health issues are not always covered by health insurance. he adds that it often takes someone getting in trouble with the law for mental health services to become available. our report on mental health will be released to the legislature and the governor on december 31. we look good every angle of the gun control debate and the history of gun-control in this country and how the nra has supported politicians over the

years in a special section of our web site -- wbaltv.com. >> before the -- on the morning of the shooting, top experts here in maryland for having a discussion on school discipline. hundreds of educators from across the state meant to share notes on where to draw the line when it comes to expelling or suspending students. in maryland, almost 60,000 students were suspended. >> if the child cannot read, they are more likely to act out. let's teach them to read. if the child has no support at home, let's provide that child a mentor in school to make sure they get the guidance they need. >> the state board of education has authorized a new discipline policy that allows this to come up with new ways to discipline non-violent offenders instead of suspension. and temporary baltimore county

employees will be let go before the holiday season. administrators say they are making the cuts to avoid duplicate positions, some of which i've been on the payroll for three years. they are feeling pressure from the teachers' union to make good on contract promises. >> i have a list of surplus employees. >> and those positions are filled by temporary employees? >> apparently they are filled by temporary employees. that is a problem for us. >> and for the system? >> we want our people to be in the positions that are available. >> those cuts are expected to be put into effect on friday. a new study to make employees happier and more productive -- the new telecommuting policy would be applied to employees in

areas where it makes sense, especially information technology. is being made available to all employees through an application process and would be dealt with on a case by case basis. those approved would be able to work remotely for five days of each two-week pay period. >> house republican leaders are now endorsing a plan be option for the fiscal cliff. >> house speaker john boehner says he will put the plan be option on the floor for a vote later this week -- the plan b option on the floor for a vote later this week. >> demonstrators converged on capitol hill, demanding a solution on the fiscal cliff. >> we need to rebuild the middle class. >> with the clock ticking down to the january 1 deadline,

republicans are pitching a backup plan. >> we would protect american taxpayers to make $1 million or less and cut current rates extended. >> under plan b the tax rate for those who make more than $1 million a year would raise to 35%. democrats quickly rejected it. >> speaker boehner's proposal is not balanced. it cannot pass the senate. >> my personal preference would be to not raise taxes on anyone. these revenue measures began in the house of representatives and we will deal with the package when it comes over. >> both sides have moved closer to an agreement. president obama is proposing a tax hike on those making over $400,000 a year. republicans say that is still not good enough. >> the president seems obsessed with raising taxes on small

businesses and people across this country. >> each side is accusing the other of failing to produce a balanced plan and so the talks continue. in washington, wbal tv-11 news. >> just one week until christmas, and with that, positive news about travel. >> we will of the latest report from aaa and gas prices. >> at reagan's camp at ellen's mills, the ravens and hope to see one significant trend turnaround against the giants. >> gusty winds in the area. trying to bring in cooler temperatures.

>> can you believe we are one week away from christmas? >> it is true. it will be quite the year for traveling. aaa predicts that 1.9 maryland residents are expected to travel 50 miles are more. if that number holds, it will be the largest number of holiday travelers since they began predicting in 2001. aaa says gas prices are higher, but they have dropped 50 cents a gallon since peaking on september 13. >> now your 11 insta-weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> we have been watching it up front move of the mid-atlantic

coast. we're trying to bring in cooler air for the region. a stronger front will arrive thursday night into friday morning, and with it will come up seasonal temperatures. you can see we have rain and snow showers to the north. not a lot of precipitation. certainly, mild temperatures. the average for the day is 44. that is 15 degrees warmer than normal today and still we fell 14 degrees short of a record high, 72 set in 2006. the record low -- single digits in 1919. upstate new york, we have some rain and snow. pretty good snowfall in the adirondacks. around here, just a little piece of cold air. 30 as far as detroit. it gets into the 20's in the northern lakes.

then we start a warm-up. tonight, clear to partly cloudy skies. heading into the mountains, he might move into rain and snow showers. here, just a partly cloudy sky. freezing in the suburbs. winds are gradually diminishing. there is today's system, already making steady progress off the coast. weakening as it tracks through the lake. this next one in the rockies is the one that we have our eye on. this will go through western canada and swing on into the atlantic friday through saturday. with any luck, tomorrow, you will be able to soak up some sunshine. it will not be as warm as today, but still above normal. we could hear some thunder thursday night as this fraud makes its way through offshore. -- as this front makes its way through offshore.

watched as this goes through western maryland thursday night. there is a winter storm watch. we have some chilly air, and finally the ski resorts will be happy as they get some natural snow. sunny skies in baltimore. on the bay, the winds will not be as strong as today. out in the western mountains, thursday into friday, should be a nice day. nasty weather coming in on friday. temperatures get colder. all snow friday into saturday in garrett county. much colder out that way. those thursday showers will not reach the beach in ocean city until thursday night's. the cold front will change the temperatures around quite a bit by the weekend. 40's 4 highs on thursday, friday. only are around 40 and a flurry is even possible on saturday.

christmas day, mostly cloudy with a high of 42. >> this is 11 sports. >> with you from the under armour sports center -- as the ravens put together their game plan, you can expect underlined highlights and circles around this -- "no turnovers." it jumps out at you. 6 turnovers in the last three games. this for a team that only had nine turnovers in its last 11 games. joe flacco with a fumble and an interception against the redskins, steelers, and broncos in back to back-to-back weeks. the ravens know that that has to change for the losers -- losing screak to and. -- losing streak to end.

>> you can bank on a lot of things. you can choose to dwell in help. that is what we do. you cannot do it any other way. we are playing next week against another team that is contending for the championships. we have had adversity. we have had exhilaration. we have had great moments. that is what a season is made of. the team that's navigates all of these things the best in the end will be the one true champion. >> much more with the ravens tonight with ravens won a one on wbal radio. you can hear our interview following tonight's news test. you can also watch our interview at 10:30 on wbal tv news plus.

today the new york jets and benched mark sanchez in a move that arguably came too late. sanchez turned the ball over five times. four interceptions and a fumble. that lost last night eliminates the jets from the post their season. and more onerous for johnny football. the texas a&m quarterback who became the first to win a heisman trophy. he has become the first freshman ever to win that award as well. this is a major challenge. stick around. tom tasselmyer will be back with your forecast coming straight ahead.

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>> here is a look at what we are looking on for 11 is tonight. the calls for stricter gun control crows louder after the -- grows louder after the horrible tragedy friday. plus, an alleged a drunken- driving accident and seriously injured an army veteran. what lawmakers are calling for. what lawmakers are calling for. those stories and more

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>> we are taking -- we were taking bets on the morning show. what is the first measurable snow fall. >> measurable? >> on a day like today. >> low 60's tomorrow. friday morning, a cold front comes up through. gusty winds. nothing measurable. dry and chilly on sunday. christmas day, dry, cool

weather. >> awhile. >> my guess is christmas. >> if you are like the mental list. thank

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